The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, the nodal agency implementing the underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro 3 Line started its tree plantation drive in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
The firm, in a release issued on Friday stated that it would plant 20,900 trees during this monsoon, in association with SGNP authorities, and would maintain them for a period of seven years.
The release informed that 10,450 of these trees were being planted as part of a compensatory plantation, for the trees being felled during the Metro Line 3 construction, while the rest could comprise its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.
BJP Member of Parliament from Mumbai’s North Central constituency, Poonam Mahajan, inaugurated the drive along with MMRC managing director Ashwini Bhide.
The MMRC, a joint venture of the state government and the Centre, added that it would use 19 hectares of land allocated by the SGNP authorities for the plantation drive.
Following the inauguration of the drive, Mahajan tweeted, “Day began with a blessed morning! After two years of persistent efforts, 20,900 trees were planted at the degraded land of Goregaon, Dindoshi in #SGNP. An encroached place then will now be converted into a beautiful forest soon. When you take care of nature, you take care of future.”
The MP thanked MMRC for the initiative and added that it would boost greenery in the area.
MMRC MD Bhide said, “The SGNP not only offered the land for plantation but is executing it in a systematic manner. We aren’t just financially supporting them but will also make sure that the entire tree plantation is done with utmost precaution, care and under the guidance of experts.”
Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of SGNP, Anwar Ahmed and Director (Projects) of MMRC, S K Gupta, among others, were present during the tree plantation inauguration.
The MMRC, earlier on July 10, had said that 5.1 kilometres of tunnelling of the 33.5 km long underground metro route had been completed
